People with hypersexuality or sex addiction, formerly known as nymphomania in women and as satiriasis in men , feel the need to obtain sexual gratification continuously. However, they do not do so so much by seeking pleasure as by trying to relieve the tension and emotional distress they feel.

In this article we will analyze the causes, symptoms and treatments of sex addiction . We will also define this concept and its relationship with other nearby concepts: hypersexuality, nymphomania and satiriasis.

Nymphomania, sex addiction and hypersexuality

Hypersexuality is defined as the frequent, excessive and uncontrollable increase in desire and sexual activity. Although the term is not included in the diagnostic classifications, ‘hypersexuality’ is the official concept to refer to disorders of this type. Hypersexuality is also known as ‘sex addiction’.

Addictions are behavioral and/or cerebral alterations that consist of the compulsive search for rewarding stimuli or that cause relief from emotional discomfort. This compulsion comes to occupy most of life to the detriment of other aspects, such as social and work functioning.

“Nymphomania” is an archaic word that was used to specifically name female hypersexuality but has become a colloquial synonym for ‘sex addiction’. In the case of men, the term ‘satiriasis’ was mainly used. The ICD-10 still includes these two terms in the category ‘excessive sexual drive’. Hypersexuality was not included in the DSM-5 due to lack of scientific evidence.

A person is considered hypersexual or addicted to sex when his or her preoccupation with sexual activity causes discomfort or interferes with normal functioning. It is estimated that 3-6% of the population has some degree of sex addiction.

Causes

If we understand nymphomania or hypersexuality as a sex addiction, we can explain the development of this disorder from brain dopaminergic activity. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and reinforcement; our organism secretes it when we eat, when we consume some substances or when we have an orgasm.

The biological component of addictions is attributed to the search for sensations associated with dopamine . When a person becomes addicted to a behaviour or stimulus, he or she acquires a physical and/or psychological dependency and also develops tolerance to the object of addiction; this means that to obtain the same physiological effect he or she requires an increasingly higher dose.

Hypersexuality can also result from the use of dopamine agonist drugs, such as those used to treat Parkinson’s disease, as well as lesions in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are concerned with regulating the sex drive.

In many cases nymphomania appears as a secondary symptom of other psychological disorders . In particular, dementias, borderline personality disorder, autism, bipolar disorder and the Klüver-Bucy and Kleine-Levin syndromes stand out. Addiction to alcohol and other drugs can also facilitate the development of hypersexuality.

Symptoms of Sex Addiction

Since it is not officially considered a disorder, sex addiction has no diagnostic criteria of its own . However, experts have identified different signs and symptoms characteristic of hypersexuality.

Masturbation and excessive sex are the main symptoms of sex addiction. The person spends most of his or her time searching for sexual gratification, for example visiting pornographic sites and trying to find sexual partners (including professionals in prostitution), and is unable to give up these activities despite trying on multiple occasions.

People with nymphomania neglect their obligations and responsibilities in favour of their addiction, and maintain their compulsive behaviours despite the negative consequences that these have for their lives ; among other things, it is common for those with hypersexuality to be repeatedly unfaithful to their partners or find it difficult to connect intimately with them.

Sex addiction facilitates the emergence of paraphilias, i.e., the obtaining of sexual pleasure from atypical sources (such as pain or specific objects), and behaviors that can be classified as harassment, especially if the sexual desire is focused on specific individuals.

Intervention and treatment

The treatment of nymphomania is similar to that for other types of addictions, both behavioral and substance-related. Thus, the main focus is abstinence, at least temporarily, as well as the acquisition of healthy habits.

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the dominant orientation in the psychological treatment of addictions. It focuses on the interrelationship between behavior, thought and emotion. In cases of addiction, CBT consists mainly of increasing the motivation for change and the development of alternative rewarding activities .

.

2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy, developed by Marsha Linehan, is one of the treatments we know as ‘third generation cognitive-behavioral therapies’. It differs from classical CBT in its emphasis on emotions and meditation through Mindfulness , as well as training in problem management skills.

3. Support groups

This type of group therapy is led by experts, who may be psychotherapists or recovered addicts. Support groups are very useful for people with hypersexual or other types of addictions because they help them to share their problems and possible strategies for managing them . They are especially effective for the person to confront his/her denials and rationalizations regarding addiction.

Many of these groups are based on the 12-step outline developed by the Alcoholics Anonymous community, which was one of the first groups to identify hypersexuality as an addictive disorder.

4. Marriage and partner therapy

In cases of sex addiction, couples therapy can be very beneficial for improving communication, trust and sexual satisfaction between the person with nymphomania and his or her partner.

5. Medication

Antidepressant drugs can be effective in reducing hypersexuality resulting from emotional distress. If nymphomania occurs as a result of bipolar disorder or hormonal disturbances, mood stabilizers and hormonal therapies (particularly antiandrogenic) are sometimes prescribed, respectively. However, the use of drugs should only be initiated by medical indication.